Today I felt the encouragement of light, it was a beautiful day, cool, sunny, windy. The grass is coming up, the wind blew the insects away, our new ear ointment has kept the flies off equine ears, Fate was doing spectacular outruns in the meadow, to no particular end, and Red sat on the edge of the pasture presiding over this beautiful scene like a king.

On such a day, everything seems possible. Behind me, Maria walked with her pony as Chloe grazed on the tall grass. Almost everything that I loved was in that field with me and life never seemed fuller or more rife with promise. Our wonderful little farmhouse sat nestled among the big old maple trees, rolling hills beyond us.

I know that crisis and mystery is just around every corner, but so is fulfillment, growth and meaning. I’ve won the great lottery, at least for now.